Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Wright to speak at Northwestern afterall

October 1, 2008

Rev Wright to speak at Northwestern three days after the election. No word if he will ever get that honorary degree once promised him. He will be hosted by "For Members Only", a black alliance group on the campus. When the whole retraction went down, Zachary Parker from FMO was vocal in his disapproval. What else could Northwestern do? The graduating class would have been distracted by all the press and who knows what Wright would have come up with to entertain them. The main event was the graduation - not the bestowing of the honorary degree. I'm sure he'll get it next year.

In the article Parker believes the controversy surrounding Wright will still be an issue and in the comments below the article he writes: "This will go down in history." I sincerely doubt that. Unless Wright makes an appearance before Barry wins the election it will be an asterisk - no matter what he says in his speech. The timing is not at all curious either. Wright will be in town anyway for barry's victory party.

From NorthbyNorthwestern's ALEX CAMPBELL & CHELSEA FINGER
[Wright] will deliver the keynote speech at FMO's State of the Black Union, which puts forth the slogan "Redeeming and Reclaiming our Community."

"We are making the statement that the black community at Northwestern still supports and defends Jeremiah Wright regardless of the university's actions towards him," Parker said.

Northwestern's Vice President for University Relations Al Cubbage said that the university would not interfere with FMO's choice of speaker.

"NU organizations are allowed to invite anyone they want, and the university supports this opportunity that they are providing," Cubbage said. "I don't think anybody perceived the event as going against the university."

"Humbled and honored," Wright responded to FMO's invitation.
Now we wait and see if Wright can contain himself long enough to let his disciple become the first African American president of the USA.

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